PBBM, DepEd roll out prefab classrooms to speed up construction, ease congestion in schools

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MARIVELES, Bataan, March 19, 2026 — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday inspected newly installed prefabricated classrooms at Mariveles National High School– Alasasin Annex, highlighting how the Department of Education (DepEd) is turning to fast-build solutions to quickly deliver learning spaces and help bridge the country’s classroom gap.



Through the donation of First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos and the Next Gen Foundation, the modular classrooms were completed in less than two weeks after the site was identified earlier this month, demonstrating how prefabricated structures can significantly shorten construction timelines compared with conventional school buildings.



Education Secretary Sonny Angara said prefabricated classrooms offer a practical and faster solution to immediate infrastructure needs while longer-term school building projects are underway.

“Ang mahalaga, mas mabilis nating nabibigyan ng maayos na silid-aralan ang ating mga mag-aaral. Habang tinutugunan natin ang long-term classroom needs, may agarang solusyon para hindi na kailangang magsiksikan ang mga bata,” Angara said.



President Marcos’ visit also included the turnover of digital learning devices and the rollout of the YAKAP at Kalinga Caravan supporting student health and welfare.



The caravan provided a one-stop shop for essential health services, including free medical consultations, laboratory tests, essential medicines, and vision screening for learners and personnel.

This joint initiative of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and DepEd supports student well-being and promotes preventive healthcare within the school community.



Angara shared that the site was first inspected on March 5, when engineers confirmed that the available area could accommodate a one-storey, two-classroom modular building. A joint validation with representatives from the DepEd Central Office followed the next day to confirm the project’s feasibility.



Site clearing began on March 9 in preparation for the installation of the modular units, while classroom furniture was delivered on March 11 ahead of the completion of the structures.



The newly installed modular classrooms will immediately provide additional learning spaces for Senior High School learners. Mariveles National High School– Alasasin Annex currently serves 1,031 learners and is projected to face a shortage of at least five classrooms with the expected influx of Grade 12 students in the next school year.



For teachers and learners, the additional classrooms are expected to ease congestion, allow more organized class schedules, and provide better learning environments.

Angara also noted that the school is included in the Department’s 2026–2030 school building masterplan, which targets the construction of a four-storey building with 12 classrooms to address the school’s long-term infrastructure needs.